Cigarette humidifier



Feb. 5, 1957 F. J. BosMAN 2,780,439

CIGARETTE HUMDIF'IER Filed July 11, 195e Fran/r J. Bosman INVEN TOR.

Unite States Patent O CIGARETTE HUMIDIFIER Frank J. Bosman, Aberdeen, S.Dak.

Application `uly 11, 1956, Serial No. 597,134

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-24) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in humidifiers particularly for cigarettes, although itwill be understood, of course, that the device may also be used formoistening cigars and pipe tobacco.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a humidifier of the character described which isadapted to be readily inserted in a package or case from which onecigarette has been removed for keeping all of the remaining cigarettesuniformly moist and in good condition until used.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cigarette humidifier ofthe aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, durable, compact,

`highly eflicient and reliable in use, attractive in appearance andwhich may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the acpanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective View, showing a humidifier embodying thepresent invention in use in a cigarette package, a corner portion of thelatter being broken away;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal secton, taken substantially on the line3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged View in vertical section through an intermediateportion of the device, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises anintermediate section in the form of a tube 5 of suitable material,preferably plastic, which tube may be of any desired dimensions. Thetube 5 terminates in externally reduced and threaded end portions 6. Thetube 5 further includes an angular bore 7. A longitudinally elongatedradial vent 8 in the tube 5 communicates with the bore 7 at the angularintermediate portion thereof. This is shown to advantage in Figure 2 ofthe drawing. It will be noted that the bore 7 angles away from the vent8. The tube 5 is still further provided, on opposite sides of the bore7, with relatively small parallel passages 9.

Threadedly mounted on the lower end portion 6 of the tube 5 is anelongated container 10 in the form of a transparent cap for thereception of water to the desired level, as indicated at l1. Threade'dlymounted on the upper end portion 6 of the tube 5 is a removable,elongated container 12 in the form of a cap for the reception of a ller13 of cotton or other suitable soft, absorbent material. 65

Mounted on the upper portion of the container 12 is a suitable clip 14for securing the device in position in a cigarette package, as indicatedat 15.

2,780,48 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 ice Mounted in the angular bore 7 of thetube 5 is a wick 16 of suitable material. The wick 16 is of aconsiderably greater length than the tube 5 and the end portions of saidwick extend into the caps or containers 10 and 12.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the container 10 is removedfrom the tube 5, fille-d to the desired level with water, as at 11, andreplaced on said tube. The package 15 is opened in the usual manner anda cigarette is removed therefrom. The size and shape of the humidifieris such that it may be readily inserted in the space left by the removedcigarette. The clip 14 engages the upper portion of the package 15 forsecuring the humidifier therein at all times. Of course, the water inthe container 10 saturates the wick 16 and feeds upwardly therein bycapillary attraction into the absorbent filler 13 in the container 12.The air in the package 15 contacts the saturated wick 16 through thevent 8 and is moistened thereby in an obvious manner, thus moisteningthe cigarettes, as indicated at 20. It will be noted that the vent 8 andthe clip 14 are on diametrically opposite sides of the device forpreventing said vent from being closed or obstructed by the walls of thepackage 15 when said clip is engaged therewith. The container 10 ispreferably filled with water substantially to the level of the bore 7 ofthe tube 5 with the device resting in a horizontal position. In thismanner, the water is prevented from draining by gravity from thehumidifier if the device is left in a horizontal position. Also, theangular shape of the bore 7 assists in preventing the escape of thewater should the device be left in a horizontal position with the vent 8lowermost. The passages 9 permit the circulation of air between thecontainers 10 and 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A humidier for insertion in a cigarette package, said humidifiercomprising: a tube having a vent therein at an intermediate point, saidtube further having a bore angled away from the vent and communicatingtherewith, a container, for the reception of water, removably mounted onone end portion of the tube, a container removably mounted on the otherend portion of said tube, an absorbent ller in the second-namedcontainer, and a wick mounted in the bore of the tube and having its endportions extending into the first and second-named containers.

2. A humidifier for insertion in a cigarette package, said humidifiercomprising: a tube having a radial vent therein at an intermediatepoint, said tube further having longitudinal air passages extendingtherethrough, removable containers threadedly mounted on the endportions of said tube, one of said containers for the reception of waterand being transparent, an absorbent filler in the other container, and awick mounted in the tube and extending therefrom into the containers.

Lee Mar. 10, 1942 Adair Mar. 2, 1954

